This hearty salad is packed with protein, healthy fats and is topped with a tangy, sweet, homemade dressing.

I have a love affair with salad. Eating at least one per day leaves me feeling lighter and with more energy to take on the day. Try adding a hearty salad into your weekly lunch routine and see how much better you feel! To avoid the daily salad rut, I'm always looking for next twists to keep things interesting. When I put together this combination of crunchy, sweet, nutty, and tangy ingredients I knew I'd found a winner.

When assembling a main dish salad look for ways to include several veggies and plenty of protein and healthy fats. Then whip up a simple dressing. A tangy, sweet homemade dressing turns the ordinary salad into something special. Feel free to play around with the ingredients, using what you have on hand and your own taste preferences. For this salad you can substitute any nut for the cashews, or omit for a nut-free option. And for a vegan alternative add a handful of chickpeas in place of the chicken. So go get your salad on and make this hearty Power Protein Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing for lunch or dinner today!

POWER PROTEIN SALAD WITH MAPLE DIJON DRESSING

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

1 teaspoon maply syrup

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 cups loosely packed baby spinach

½ red bell pepper, chopped

½ yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 cup cooked chicken breast, chopped

1 hard boiled egg, sliced

2 tablespoons roasted cashews

1 tablespoon hemp seeds

Method:

1. Make the dressing by whisking the vinegar, salt, mustard, and syrup in a small bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and whisk until well combined.

2. Assemble the salad by piling the spinach on a plate and topping with pepper, chicken, hard boiled egg, cashews, and hemp seeds. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately.

Serves 1

Making this recipe? Let me know what you think, if your family liked it, and any adaptations you make in the comments. I really do love hearing from you! And be sure to tag #realfoodwholelife on Instagram so I can see what you're making!

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